Believe it or not, Arsenal now look like one of the most solid teams in the Premier League. After years of lackluster defending and shaky back-fours, Arsene Wenger finally seems to have three centre-backs he can rely on and plenty of options in the full-back department.
Best of all, thanks to Steve Bould’s input, the Gunners seem to have found the right balance in their side. Last season, Arsenal’s attacking endeavor often saw them left open at the back. This season has been a different story. Mikel Arteta is considerably more disciplined than Alex Song was and players like Gervinho and Lukas Podolski are now working harder to win the ball back further up the pitch.
The result it a team that looks to be working in unison, whilst building from the back. This newly found defensive-prowess is surely the reason Arsenal have only conceded twice in five Premier League games, with both occasions being the result of a goal-keeping error.
The likes of Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen, just look unbeatable at the moment.
But despite all the good feeling, it’s worth remember that Arsenal’s goalkeepers have been lackluster this season. Two mistakes in five games just isn’t good enough. Yet it’s hard to blame the likes of Vito Mannone and Wojciech Szczesny. They are young keepers learning their trade at the very top level. It’s a tough gig and expectations out to be managed.
The purpose of this article is not to criticize two talented players, who both look to have a future in the Premier League (particularly Szczesny). The purpose is rather to question why Arsene Wenger did not have the foresight to sign a more experienced number one.
Goalkeeping has been a sore point for Arsenal teams for the last decade or so. Whilst their keepers go through patches of good form, there hasn’t been one keeper who looked like he could hold down his place for the foreseeable future. Szczesny has come closest, but he’s error-prone and his mistakes have cost his club and country before.
Whilst Arsene Wenger made some smart signings this summer, this is beginning to look like a serious omission. Arsenal look to have a side worthy of challenging for the title. It would a shame to see their challenge faulter because they failed to strengthen this one key area.
What’s your take? Can Arsenal’s young keepers hold down the fort? Or will reinforcements be necessary this January?
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man is to error and experience is the best teacher, i guess they’ll learn from these simple mistakes and come out “outstanding”
I agree with your points on the new found defensive solidarity of the team, which bodes well for the future! However, I believe Szczesny is one of the best young keepers around, considerably better than De Gea, Lindegaard, and the much vaunted Cech (at the moment). Yes, he was poor against Soton, but he’s coming back from injury, and didn’t have much preparation. On the other hand, i’ve been really impressed by Vito, he’s been exceptional, really improved since his last disastrous showing last season! I don’t think there are better choices out there to be honest!
All the title contenders dont have better keepers than Arsenal do except Man City but its only Joe Hart they have. Injury & their wobbly defense is also placing them where they are now. We dont need 2 buy.
Nah. Szczney’s error was undeerstandable and the corner kick conceeded by Manone at Man City was really the fault of the defense.
I still think we need a first class keeper,which
we haven’t got at the moment,also a first class
striker,get them and we can beat any team,
Arsenal can afford to to do that. “UP THE GUNNERS”
Hart for City was actually out on loan and suddenly Coming back he looks like one of the most capable hands in the league. SCezny (sp) is just a shade behind but that ok as long as he works hard to improve. even the best GKs succumb to world class goals eg Ronaldhino vs seaman Hart looked out of sorts with that wonder goal he let in during the INtl brake(sp)
Did Wenger goof? Who knows to win the title your keeper needs to earn you vital points against the toughest teams where you may scoore jsuts one goal you need you GK to step up big time especialyy in the last 5 mins plus Damn Fergie time
This article stems from obsession with Arsenal, a team that has let in only two goals in 5 games! So is it ok for the manchester clubs that have let in more goals or Liverpool side that is yet to keep a clean sheet ? Very poor and biased article.
What you going on ya numpty? It’s an article questioning the ability of arsenal’s keepers and whether an older experienced keeper should have been bought? How’s that biased? Strange. To answer the articles question, I think szczesny is capable of filling the role. Yes he’ll make mistakes but so does Cech (who was dubbed the best in the world 18 months ago). Chesny has got the confidence and mentality to overcome any issues that might come his way.
good goalies can save match points.manone was badly position.you can see he was far from the goal post!he suffers from indecision’s,whether to come out or stay by the goals!shenzy isnt that gd either if he was we could not have considered the amount of goals we did last season!there are better goalies out there!friedel, al habsi, krul arsenal goalkeepers hav a lot to learn!but do we have the time?
I think we support to find a goal keeper‘s coach like we did with the defence. Keep rotating both of them they will learn from individual errors.
Personally i prefer Mannone 2 Szczesny.He is calmer,taller nd doesn’t rely on tweet 2 b noticed.
In France 1998 world cup paraguay goalkeeper Luise chilavert ws recorgnised as d best keeper in d tournament bt d shame chilavert conceded four goals in a match due 2 poor defence so no gkp is beter if d defence line up is bad, if AFC defence maintain their stand d gkp wil be covered cos Rome ws nt built in a day thos tag best gkps did nt started in a day.
Chesney is one Of the best keepers in the league just behind Hart. Fabianski and Mannone have a lot of potential to be very good keepers. So no I don’t think Wenger goofed.